Chapter 27 #2
Taylor gasps. That little noise is the only thing that keeps me grounded and proves that I just heard him say what I think I did. “Me?”
“Son, you came to me over a decade ago, eager to work and did it all with so much pride, I’m still in awe of you.”
I don’t think I’m breathing.
“And I’ll tell you something else.” He squirms in his seat and breaks eye contact with me. “I had an anxiety attack.”
Taylor makes another little noise, but there’s softness in her tone when she says, “We know, Dad. We were there.”
“But you don’t know why.” He blows out a long breath and looks at his daughter. “I’ve been scared to death you two weren’t going to make it.”
Taylor slowly stands. “What do you mean?”
“Remember that stupid kissing trend thing years ago?” He shakes his head.
“Christ, you wouldn’t shut up about it with Carly for months afterwards.
That’s when I started paying better attention to the two of you.
” He flicks his gaze at me. “You’ve had my daughter’s safety and happiness at the forefront of every move you’ve ever made, Conner.
You two put a line between each other and didn’t dare cross it. ”
My throat closes up.
“I know you didn’t have a good home life, son. It’s why Corrine and I have always tried to include you as part of our family.”
The room is getting blurry.
“To watch you love my daughter so unconditionally all these years. You let her grow. Let her go. You always let her be herself, and you’ve loved her so fiercely every day, I just kept waiting for you two to get your heads out of your asses and be together.
Erase that line you drew between each other.
You were always so close.” His voice cracks, when he adds, “But when you came to me with your resignation letter, I was terrified. Not for my business, but for Taylor. And I realized what a fool I’d been.
I’ve taken you for granted, Conner, thinking you’d always be here and that was wrong and unfair of me. For that, I’m sorry.”
I can’t feel my legs.
“I’d hoped giving you time to breathe and re-prioritize your life would help. I don’t want you making the same mistakes I did. Corrine and I have had some rocky times because I focus too hard on proving myself to a dead man.”
His father, I realize. The one who sounded so much like my own when Russel would sometimes tell me stories about him.
“But you changed,” he says. Not to me, but to Taylor. “That’s when I knew Conner was a smart man too. He knows when to stay and when to go.”
“Dad. What are you talking about?”
Yeah, Russ. What the hell are you talking about?
“Do you love her?” he asks.
“Yes. She’s my… my whole world. Everything I’ve done and will do is for her.”
He swallows hard. “Do you love him?”
“Yes,” Taylor whispers with glassy eyes.
Russ nods and lets out another shaky breath.
“I knew you two finally got where you belonged when you came to the hospital. I saw it on your faces. Something had changed between you too.” He taps his heart.
“And the pain in my chest was gone as fast as it came. My anxiety has nothing to do with work, and everything to do with two of the most important people in my life finally understanding what everyone in Bear Creek has known for damn near two decades.”
The air rushes from my lungs. I don’t know if I should be relieved, flattered, or guilty.
“You two belong together. And I was scared shitless it was never going to happen. Especially when you were ready to walk out on the job, Conner.” His brow pinches. “You have big dreams, son, and I shot them down. I’m sorry for holding you back.”
“Sir, there’s nothing to apologize for.”
“Yes, there is, and you know it. It wasn’t personal about you, it was personal about me. I don’t like stepping out of my comfort zone or trying new things. I’ve run this company into a wall because of it.”
“This is a very successful business, Russ.”
“Yeah, but if I stay, that’s not progress. Imagine the possibilities if I go.” He stands up and clears his throat again. “I’d like to offer you a deal. I’ll sell you the company and all the equipment, clients, and property comes with it, but I have some conditions.”
“Dad,” Taylor growls. “You can’t keep controlling—”
He holds his hand up. “Conner has every right to reject them all and turn this deal away. No hard feelings. But at least hear me out.”
I grip the side of the desk with both hands. “I’m listening.”
“Nothing stays the same. You can’t run it like I did.”
My teeth clench as I swallow the lump in my throat.
“Go electronic and streamline as best you can. Work smarter, not harder, okay? I could never work computers like you kids do, so I was a lost cause. Do better than me. And you have big service and product expansion ideas, which I’d like to see you implement because you’re onto something with those aquatic designs and all.
It’s why I let you get your certifications and paid for them. ”
I’m going to pass the fuck out.
Russel folds his arms across his chest. “And you’ll have to keep Gems-n-Stems under the company umbrella unless Taylor says otherwise.”
“Anything else?” Taylor fusses with her hands on her hips. She sounds mad and I don’t get why… or maybe I do.
Russel is one, still trying to be in control even after he’s out of here, and two, acting like I have any hope of getting a loan big enough to afford this endeavor. Which is yet another reason I was too scared to build my own company from scratch. I don’t have the money.
A small business loan wouldn’t be enough to make my dream business happen anytime soon, which means I’ll be slow to grow and working myself into the ground to get there.
Just. Like. Russel.
A smart man knows when to stay and when to go.
Should I stay and take this opportunity? Should I find a new line of work I won’t love nearly as much? And what about Gems-n-Stems? Taylor could certainly break off and do her own thing but…
“How much?”
Russel frowns and looks at the ground for a moment. My heart slows down. I’m already bracing to hear a fair, but big amount I can’t afford. This company owns a huge piece of property for the nursery and expensive equipment. Wrapping it all up in a package will cost a pretty penny.
“One hundred.”
“Thousand?” I ask, standing straighter because hope just speared my heart. Between draining my bank account and getting a small loan, I could probably swing it.
“No.” Russel shakes his head. “Just one hundred.”
“One hundred dollars?” Taylor asks, also not believing what her father just said.
“Yup.” Russ pokes his finger at me. “But I want it in cash.”
Is he serious?
“What do you say, son? We got a deal or what?”